Effects of phosphite treatments on cell walls components of potato tubers

OLIVIERI FP; LOBATO MC; LASSO MJ; FELDMAN ML; MACHINANDIARENA MF; ANDREU AB; DALEO GR

Villa Carlos Paz. Cordoba, Argentina.

Congreso; XLIV Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2008

Sociedad Argentina de Investgaciones Bioquímicas y Moleculares

  Phosphites (Phi) are alkali metal salts of phosphorous acid, with the ability to protect plants against different pathogens. Molecules involved in the protection provided by phosphites are still unknown. Preliminary studies of our laboratory showed that the periderm thickness of potato tubers increased in tubers from treated plants (Phi). The aim of this work was to analyze modifications in cell wall proteins and pectins in tubers from plants treated with potassium phosphite (KPhi). The tubers from cvs. Shepody and Bannock Russet showed an increase in the resistance to F. solani,P. infestans and E. carotovora. Differences in SDS-PAGE pattern of cell wall proteins were observed between tubers from treated plants respect to controls. On the other hand, pectin extracts, obtained by different methodologies, showed that they are modified by KPhi treatments and also after wounding orF. solani infection. The type of pectin and the accumulation were analyzed by immunoblot using JIM5 and JIM7 antibodies. The differences produced in proteins and pectins by KPhi, also showed variations depending on potato cultivar. Morpho-histological analysis will contribute to know if these changes in the cell wall architecture are part of the defense responses induced by KPhi.